William and Margaret Cavendish
The first Duke and Duchess who began the building we now call Nottingham Castle.
William was a wealthy landowner, born in South Yorkshire in 1593. He married Margaret Lucas, a philosopher and writer, in 1645.
Together, William and Margaret were great patrons of the arts – supporting artists like playwright Ben Jonson and lavishly creating new “modern” buildings. Margaret also became popular as a writer of plays, poetry, and fiction. During the Civil War they supported the King and went into exile after the Royalist defeat at Marston Moor.
After the restoration of Charles II to the throne in 1660, William was created 1st Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne and the couple commissioned a “Ducal Palace” on the site of Nottingham Castle, which they had purchased from the Duke of Buckingham. The pair had extravagant taste and Samuel Marsh of Lincoln, the project’s architect, created an “Italianate” palazzo for them unlike any house yet in England.
Margaret died before the completion of the new castle for the Newcastles and William died a few years later with building still on-going. The project was completed by Henry Cavendish, the 2nd Duke.
